From df4c6bc132fe77294b24f254d627206edf7966ec Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Corey Haines <34802794+coreyhaines31@users.noreply.github.com> Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:36:06 -0800 Subject: [PATCH] Add reverse engineering viral content framework to social-content skill Adds 6-step framework for data-driven content creation: - Niche identification and creator research - Scraping posts at scale (Apify, Phantom Buster) - Pattern analysis (hooks, formats, CTAs) - Playbook codification with examples - Voice layering principles (specificity, brevity, emotion) - Conversion strategies Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 --- skills/social-content/SKILL.md | 192 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 192 insertions(+) diff --git a/skills/social-content/SKILL.md b/skills/social-content/SKILL.md index 7da8695..12fa7ef 100644 --- a/skills/social-content/SKILL.md +++ b/skills/social-content/SKILL.md @@ -595,6 +595,198 @@ Engagement isn't just responding—it's actively participating: --- +## Reverse Engineering Viral Content + +Instead of guessing what works, systematically analyze top-performing content in your niche and extract proven patterns. + +### The 6-Step Framework + +#### 1. NICHE ID — Find Top Creators + +Identify 10-20 creators in your space who consistently get high engagement: + +**Selection criteria:** +- Posting consistently (3+ times/week) +- High engagement rate relative to follower count +- Audience overlap with your target market +- Mix of established and rising creators + +**Where to find them:** +- LinkedIn: Search by industry keywords, check "People also viewed" +- Twitter/X: Check who your target audience follows and engages with +- Use tools like SparkToro, Followerwonk, or manual research +- Look at who gets featured in industry newsletters + +#### 2. SCRAPE — Collect Posts at Scale + +Gather 500-1000+ posts from your identified creators for analysis: + +**Tools:** +- **Apify** — LinkedIn scraper, Twitter scraper actors +- **Phantom Buster** — Multi-platform automation +- **Export tools** — Platform-specific export features +- **Manual collection** — For smaller datasets, copy/paste into spreadsheet + +**Data to collect:** +- Post text/content +- Engagement metrics (likes, comments, shares, saves) +- Post format (text-only, carousel, video, image) +- Posting time/day +- Hook/first line +- CTA used +- Topic/theme + +#### 3. ANALYZE — Extract What Actually Works + +Sort and analyze the data to find patterns: + +**Quantitative analysis:** +- Rank posts by engagement rate +- Identify top 10% performers +- Look for format patterns (do carousels outperform?) +- Check timing patterns (best days/times) +- Compare topic performance + +**Qualitative analysis:** +- What hooks do top posts use? +- How long are high-performing posts? +- What emotional triggers appear? +- What formats repeat? +- What topics consistently perform? + +**Questions to answer:** +- What's the average length of top posts? +- Which hook types appear most in top 10%? +- What CTAs drive most comments? +- What topics get saved/shared most? + +#### 4. PLAYBOOK — Codify Patterns + +Document repeatable patterns you can use: + +**Hook patterns to codify:** +``` +Pattern: "I [unexpected action] and [surprising result]" +Example: "I stopped posting daily and my engagement doubled" +Why it works: Curiosity gap + contrarian + +Pattern: "[Specific number] [things] that [outcome]:" +Example: "7 pricing mistakes that cost me $50K:" +Why it works: Specificity + loss aversion + +Pattern: "[Controversial take]" +Example: "Cold outreach is dead." +Why it works: Pattern interrupt + invites debate +``` + +**Format patterns:** +- Carousel: Hook slide → Problem → Solution steps → CTA +- Thread: Hook → Promise → Deliver → Recap → CTA +- Story post: Hook → Setup → Conflict → Resolution → Lesson + +**CTA patterns:** +- Question: "What would you add?" +- Agreement: "Agree or disagree?" +- Share: "Tag someone who needs this" +- Save: "Save this for later" + +#### 5. LAYER VOICE — Apply Direct Response Principles + +Take proven patterns and make them yours with these voice principles: + +**"Smart friend who figured something out"** +- Write like you're texting advice to a friend +- Share discoveries, not lectures +- Use "I found that..." not "You should..." +- Be helpful, not preachy + +**Specific > Vague** +``` +❌ "I made good revenue" +✅ "I made $47,329" + +❌ "It took a while" +✅ "It took 47 days" + +❌ "A lot of people" +✅ "2,847 people" +``` + +**Short. Breathe. Land.** +- One idea per sentence +- Use line breaks liberally +- Let important points stand alone +- Create rhythm: short, short, longer explanation + +``` +❌ "I spent three years building my business the wrong way before I finally realized that the key to success was focusing on fewer things and doing them exceptionally well." + +✅ "I built wrong for 3 years. + +Then I figured it out. + +Focus on less. +Do it exceptionally well. + +Everything changed." +``` + +**Write from emotion** +- Start with how you felt, not what you did +- Use emotional words: frustrated, excited, terrified, obsessed +- Show vulnerability when authentic +- Connect the feeling to the lesson + +``` +❌ "Here's what I learned about pricing" + +✅ "I was terrified to raise my prices. + +My hands were shaking when I sent the email. + +Here's what happened..." +``` + +#### 6. CONVERT — Turn Attention into Action + +Bridge from engagement to business results: + +**Soft conversions:** +- Newsletter signups in bio/comments +- Free resource offers in follow-up comments +- DM triggers ("Comment X and I'll send you...") +- Profile visits → optimized profile with clear CTA + +**Direct conversions:** +- Link in comments (not post body on LinkedIn) +- Contextual product mentions within valuable content +- Case study posts that naturally showcase your work +- "If you want help with this, DM me" (sparingly) + +### Output: Proven Patterns + Right Voice = Performance + +The formula: +``` +1. Find what's already working (don't guess) +2. Extract the patterns (hooks, formats, CTAs) +3. Layer your authentic voice on top +4. Test and iterate based on your own data +``` + +### Reverse Engineering Checklist + +- [ ] Identified 10-20 top creators in niche +- [ ] Collected 500+ posts for analysis +- [ ] Ranked by engagement rate +- [ ] Documented top 10 hook patterns +- [ ] Documented top 5 format patterns +- [ ] Documented top 5 CTA patterns +- [ ] Created voice guidelines (specificity, brevity, emotion) +- [ ] Built template library from patterns +- [ ] Set up tracking for your own content performance + +--- + ## Questions to Ask If you need more context: